Missouri Department of Transportation officials announced Friday, April 4, that bids from contractors to provide a ferry service at Glasgow during the upcoming bridge closure were opened at 10 a.m.

State Sen. Bill Stouffer is holding a press conference at 5:30 p.m. in Glasgow to make an announcement related to the bridge project.

Two bids were received, MoDOT officials said, and Calhoun Ferry Company submitted the apparent low bid at $1.7 million.

"Receiving bids was the next step in determining whether the private sector had an interest in providing a ferry service and what the actual cost of the service would be," officials said. "The bids will be reviewed and considered for award by the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission on April 9."

If a bid is awarded April 9, the chosen contractor will have 15 days to sign the contract then will be given a notice to proceed, according to the news relese.

MoDOT officials hope the ferry service will be in place by the time the bridge is closed to traffic, which is planned for mid-summer.

The timeline for the project:

• Begin bridge closure window -- June 1, 2008
• Maximum bridge closure days -- 365 calendar days
• End bridge closure window -- Sept. 1, 2009
• Project completion date -- Dec. 31, 2009